Transfer market is on a high as the clubs prepare to embark on title glory in the coming 2012/2013 campaign amidst strong resistance from rival teams.
Saint-Etienne, arguably, the most successful Ligue 1 club to date, just like all other clubs, is gearing up for the next season in a befitting manner keeping the resources of the club in consideration.
The club has over a period of time, lost much of its offensive unit and for this particular reason, the primary emphasis has been laid to ensure quality signings in the midfield. In this connection, the first signing to come for the Stephanois in the current
transfer market is that of Renaud Cohade.
The 27-year-old midfielder, who made a move from Valenciennes on a three-year contract, is deemed by many as a perfect replacement for Laurent Batlles, the midfielder who recently left the club. Cohade played a pivotal part in preventing his former club
from being relegated and in the process, netted 7 crucial goals for the team. His arrival is certainly going to be a boost for the club.
In order to further bolster its midfield unit, Romain Hamouma, a young talented winger, has been signed by the club from Caen, on a four-year contact. The attacking midfielder netted 11 goals for the relegated club Caen over a period of 2 seasons in Normandt.
11 goals in 63 appearances is certainly not a bad return at all.
Francois Clerc is another signing the club has made in the current transfer market. The departure of Sylvain Marshal and a few others has weakened the back four and hence the deterrent measure resulted in the signing of Clerc, who plays as a right back.
The French outfit, Stade Rennais, who currently rank 6th in the Ligue 1 rankings of last season, are not far behind from others in the transfer market too. The scouts have prepared an effective strategy to make up for the players lost to other
clubs as well as to bolster the squad in order to ensure a respectable run in the league.
The club, over the period of the current transfer window and this year’s January transfer window, has lost an appreciable number of players to other clubs, with the midfield and forward department suffering the most.
In order to consolidate the club’s attacking unit, a few recruitments have been made in the centre. Romain Alessandrini has been bought from a Ligue 2 side for an undisclosed fee after the youngster had been through a good stint at the outfit netting 11
in just 33 appearances.
The 22-year-old started his career at Gueugnon, followed by his stint at Clermont Foot which was the highlight of his career and in an effective switch, has made his way to the top tier of French football.
The second signing the club has made to bolster its attacking department is that of Sadio Diallo from Bastia for a sum of 4 000 000 euros. The Guinean footballer started his professional football for the Ligue 2 club in the year 2010. The forward made 8
precious nettings in his 30 appearences for the Ligue 2 club.
The club is not in any hurry to sign players in a flash, it is aptly looking forward to signing players in the areas where the club needs to strengthen it and also what transfers are economically viable for it.
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